Fairly strong planet: A planet which has at lest 70% power, is unafflicted and well placed, is considered as fairly strong planet.

Mild affliction: An affliction to the extent of 25% or less to a strong or fairly strong planet or the most effective point of a non-mooltrikona sign house is considered as a mild affliction.

On the matter of identifying strength of the planets, the placement benefit of the planets has also to be kept in view. All well placed planets, irrespective of their strengths, have some minimum strength of the planets to give rise to their significations to some extent. The exact/close afflictions to the MEP of the houses or to the planets cause setbacks for the significations of the afflicted houses / planets.

Whenever Rahu-Ketu axis is placed exactly over or close to the most effective points of houses containing odd signs, besides afflicting the houses occupied and aspected it turns the planets Saturn, the Sun, Venus, Mars and Jupiter weak by afflicting their mooltrikona houses.

Whenever Rahu-Ketu axis is placed exactly over or close to the most effective points of houses containing even signs, besides afflicting the houses occupied and aspected it turns the planets the Moon and Mercury weak by afflicting their mooltrikona houses.

The close influence of the lord of the eighth house or Rahu or the lord of the twelfth house on the lord of the seventh house, and/or the most effective point of the seventh house and/or Venus and the close influence of Rahu on the lord of the eighth house gives indulgence out of marital bond for excessive sensual pleasures and endangers the native with sexually transmitted diseases.

The close affliction of the nodes to weak planets makes one vulnerable to cancerous diseases. Ever since the author, V.K.Choudhry identified this planetary configuration giving cancerous results in the year 1989, our team had been very particular in watching the horoscopes with such planetary configuration for administering preventive astral remedies and we are very proud to say that in cases where the native had not started suffering from such a fatal disease, the preventive astral remedies proved to be of great help and the natives suspected for cancerous disease did not suffer in the sub-periods of such afflicting/afflicted planets.

Whenever the affliction is close to the extent of one degree, the problems surface in the first operating planetary period. When the affliction is close to the extent of two degrees, the problem may surface in the second operating planetary period. The affliction, with the longitudinal difference of three degrees or more gives problems in the third operating planetary period. Similarly, we should treat the afflictions of longitudinal difference of four and five degrees. This varies with the strength of the primary determinants. If the primary determinants are weak, it hastens the surfacing of problem.

A planet placed in the mooltrikona sign cannot exceed the strength of its
dispositor.

During the sub period of a planet the results of planets placed in its
mooltrikona sign also fructify simultaneously.

Prediction of unfavorable results can be/is made for the significations ruled by the weak planets even if there are no afflictions in the natal chart and no planet is badly placed.

A strong planet will give beneficial results of its general and particular significations throughout the life. If it is away from the MEP of the house of its placement, it may give results for the significations of the said house in the later part of life.

A FM planet does not afflict its own MT sign by conjunction or by
aspect. A FM planet will afflict its own MT sign by aspect only if it itself
is afflicted by another FM planet.
Dispositor weakness or bad placement affliction is not applicable in this case.
The benefit of aspect to the MT sign of FM is limited to the proportion of
the strength of the FM.

III House also rules learning and comprehension.

The placement of the tenth lord in the second house gives professional eduction.

The strength of Sun or the Sun like house Planets improve the results of other planets to some extent.

In DCs we see the influence of FMs of DCs.

The strong affliction of MMP to the significators of longevity, the placement of planets in the 8th house with Moon being afflicted cause short life span.

Close afflictions to MEP of the houses harm the main significations of the house.

The strong planets give results without any efforts while the weak planets need more efforts with little/delayed success.

Give due consideration to placement of the planets. The planets placed in the third house take the person to MBA / marketing like studies. The strong planets bring brilliance coupled with stability. The weak planets show their impact through instability.

The karma results arise through the principles of divine justice. Jyotish/Astral remedies are the means for alleviating the karma results.

The important tools for predictive accuracy are the functional nature of planets, strength of planets, inter-relationships of planets, divisional charts, impact of Rahu & Ketu, planetary periods and triple transit triggers.

For differentiating between
- having issues in a particular area throughout life
- enjoying good results in a particular area but in some sub-periods facing issues and drawbacks

the guiding principles are that the planets give results as per their strength in their sub periods. Transit influences take precedence over sub period results. The strong/exact afflictions to natal planets are not easy things to be dealt with. Longtime propitiation with strengthening of afflicted planets help. Some other strong planets in the birth chart help in bringing down the impact of strong afflictions. The strong planets, in general, give good results for their significations throughout the life. Where there are no strong or well placed planets, there is little hope of things turning good.

To answer questions for timing of events, see the natal and transit planetary strengths, operating sub period and transit and answer these questions. For example, in a query for job, if the natal determinants of profession and the Sun are strong or well placed with at least 60% power and there is no transit affliction the person is likely to get work in a couple of months'time. Another month or so can be added if Rahu-Ketu are stationary. For rest of the people it may take longer time and they need strengthening of their planets and propitiation of the planets causing afflictions.

Whenever there are double or multiple close/exact afflictions, these take first priority in giving their results. In case such close/exact afflictions of MMP and Rahu-Ketu axis are suffered by the prime significator of the marriage, the marriage can be delayed inordinately or even denied. In such cases the use of a special purpose kavach and continuous special propitiatory remedies become absolutelly essential.

Strong Venus hastens marriage.

Strong Sun brings down the level of sufferings due to afflictions.

Planetary castes and Nature: Those with strong influence of Jupiter go in the learning, teaching, training, development and spiritual work - Brahmins. Those with strong Sun and Mars go for administrative / organisation profession, government assignments & security forces are fighters - Kshatriyas. Those with strong Moon, Mercury and Venus go for trading / business ventures - vaishayas. Those with weak planets and strong influences of Saturn and Rahu go for routine jobs - Sudra/routine jobs.

The impact of planet(s) placed in mooltrikona signs gets activated during the sub periods of the dispositor.

Where there is no MT sign in the fifth house, losses through speculation are identified through close influence of Rahu or the lord of the 12th house on the houses of self (1H) wealth 2(H), initiative (3H), assets (IVH), profession (10H) and speculation (5H).

The close influence of Rahu on the third lord makes the person adventurous.

The placement of planets is an important factor in horoscope reading. The placement of a planet gives results connected with the significations of the house ruled by the planet with the house of placement despite its weakness or despite the planet being away from the most effective point of the house. If a functional malefic planet is on the most effective point of a house it causes problems but the problems may be connected with the significations ruled by the said planet. For example, if the lord of the second is placed in the twelfth house, the person may move to a distant place or a foreign land in connection with the professional status. If the second lord is placed in the tenth house the person may acquire status in life due to his/her professional achievements. If the second lord is placed in the fifth house, one may acquire professional qualification and acquire status through the same. If the second lord is placed in the seventh house one may attain status in a foreign land. If the second lord is placed in the fourth house one may attain status by being born in a resourceful family. If the second lord is placed in the eighth house one may attain status in life with some delay. If the second lord is placed in the ninth house one may be lucky to attain the status in life without many efforts with the help of parents and preceptor. If the second lord is placed in the eleventh house, one may acquire status in life because of good earnings in life and because of friendship with highly placed persons. If the second lord is placed in the second house, one may enjoy good status in life due to the appointment with the state or due to the family status. If the second lord is placed in the ascendant one may enjoy authoritative status. The placement of the Sun and Mars in the third house brings courage. The close influence of the fifth lord on the tenth house brings the element of intellect. The placement of the planets in the second house, which rules status, brings status as per significations ruled by them. The good placement of eighth lord in the house of status brings easy gains with small or little efforts. The planets in the first house influence the personality traits. The planets in the second house contribute to professional ventures. The planets in the third house bring entrepreneurial ventures and opportunities. The planets in the fourth house contribute to assets. The planets in the fifth house contribute to learning. The planets in the sixth house involve the person in debts, health problems and conflicts. The planets placed in the seventh house give rise to living in foreign lands, long journeys and associations. The planets placed in the eighth house cause easy gains, obstructions and delays. The planets placed in the ninth house involve the person in family or religious traditions or spiritual pursuits. The planets placed in the tenth house involve the person in professions connected with the planet. The planets placed in the eleventh house contribute to earnings through the significations ruled by the concerned planets. The planets placed in the twelfth house take one to distant places and foreign lands and can cause losses and expenses.

During the sub period of Mercury things work with stresses and strains even when Mercury is strong and or well placed in the natal chart. This is due to the volatile strength of Mercury in transit. When Mercury is weak in the natal chart the results in its sub period do create stresses and strains. The situation becomes further difficult when either of the Sun or Mercury is a functional malefic planet.

Whenever the lord of the twelfth house is placed in the sixth house or afflicts some planet from the sixth house closely, there are chances of problems with governement which may result in arrest, legal penalties, imprisonment, etc.

The problems and mishaps are represented by the weak and weak and/or afflicted planets.

When the natal Moon is afflicted by Rahu, Rahu-like planets or is placed in the Rahu-like houses the person becomes more sensitive and especially to unfavorable incidents.

The exact affliction to badly placed lord of fourth or second or ninth or third house lord (most benefic planet) reduces the strength of other strong planets in the natal chart.

The weakness of the lord of the eighth house makes the father vulnerable to damage, both in terms of longevity and in terms of finances.

The weakness of the lord of the eighth house or fourth house curtails the financial resources or longevity of father. In Pisces ascendant there is no MT sign in the ninth and fourth houses. So, the eighth house becomes pertinent significator of the longevity of the father. We also consider the strength of the Sun in the natal chart as it is significator for father.

Affliction to the ascendant in any divisional chart by the eighth lord of the divisional chart is equally serious as the affliction to the prime determinants placed in eighth house of the divisional chart.

In divisional charts besides the affliction of R&K, the afflictions by the functional malefic planets of the divisional charts should be considered and the afflictions by the functional malefic planets of natal chart are not considered. Bad placements are also considered in the divisional charts.

ECLIPSES:

Eclipses, in general, does not make a strong or prolonged impact for living persons until and unless some slow moving planet is stationary or moving utterly slow or appearing retrograde near the degree of some natal planet in the chart of an individual or nation.

For those who are taking birth, there are chances that there are strong close afflictions to the Sun and/or the Moon or any other planet in the natal chart. This can certainly cause prolonged problems for the native.

The affliction depends upon the closeness of the functional malefic planet to the planet/house which is being afflicted.

The afflicting power of the functional malefic planet does not reduce due to its weakness. The afflicting power of the functional malefic planet increases when it is placed in a malefic house or it itself is under affliction.

If the planet/house under affliction is weak, the impact of affliction will be more.

For strong planet the orb of affliction is one degree.

The orb of affliction is two degrees for strong planets in the following cases:

The affliction to the MEP of houses is more severe in comparison to the affliction to a planet.

In case of transit of a planet in a malefic house, the impact starts from the day of entering into the malefic house and remains till it is out of the malefic house. It is important in case of slow moving planets. Patience and continued multiple peace making remedies help to a large extent. For example, if Saturn moves to sixth house one becomes vulnerable to disputes, diseases and debts for the entire period of stay of Saturn in the sixth house.

The close affliction to Sun gives difficulties to the person, high blood pressure due to anxiety, difficulties to father / husband, child and makes the person vulnerable to severe infections / allergies.

The close affliction to the Moon gives difficulties to the person, difficulties to the mother, depressing thoughts, gynae problems to ladies and immunity disorders.

ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS:

IMPACT OF MALEFIC PLANETS IN A HOUSE AND IMPACT OF PLANETS IN MALEFIC HOUSES

The regular performance of propitiatory Astral remedies reduces the magnitude of afflictions. But the impact of transit affliction lasts till the afflicting planet moves five degrees away. When the planet is transiting in the malefic house, its impact lasts till the planet remains in the malefic house. Let me put it again for clear understanding. There are two things. The first is the level/magnitude/amount of sufferings. The second is the period of suffering. The astral remedies reduce the level/magnitude/amount of sufferings. The reduced level of sufferings generally ceases to exist after the period of sufferings is over. And the persons starts getting the results as per sub period lord and other transit influences.

The afflictions of transiting malefic planets has one more dimension. Not only do they afflict the houses as per orb of affliction but also their impact of affliction continues for the entire period of a functional malefic planet which remains in a house, even when it is away from the most effective point. For example, if the lord of the sixth house enters the ascendant its impact on the significations of the first house will persist for the period until it gets out of the first house.

Similarly when a planet moves to a malefic house it is afflicted by the signification of that house for the entire period of the planet's stay in that malefic house. For example, when a planet enters the sixth house the significations of that planet become vulnerable to disputes, diseases and financial difficulties until it gets out of the sixth house.

It is the house where the transit functional malefic planet transits. When it is close to the most effective point then its aspect also comes into force as per the orb of afflictions. It is applicable for those planets which are the MT sign lords of a functional malefic planet.

Caution: Astrologers do not have
a television set and cannot give running commentary. The best thing is in
the shortest possible time, indicate the strong and weak areas in chart and
prescribe appropriate remedies. One acquires credentials or good
reputation as an astrologer with one's competence over a period of time.